ICE HOCKEY: Belfast Giants beat Fife Flyers 8-4

Goals from Riley, Murphy (x2), Saviano, Shields (x3) and Goulakos helped the Giants remain in third place and move two points clear of the Flyers.

The Giants began the game without Whistle, S.Murphy, Vandermeer, Garside, Ferland, Johner and Rutherford. Adam Keefe returned to the lineup alongside local Giants Adam Robinson and Ross Hancock. Chris Truehl started in the Giants net.

The Giants got off to the ideal start when Blair Riley fired the visitors ahead after only 18 seconds, assisted by Brendan Connolly and Darcy Murphy.

Murphy turned from provider to scorer at 10:25 when he doubled the Giants lead with a shorthanded effort, assisted by Blair Riley and Ryan Martinelli.

Steve Saviano made it 3-0 at 15:34, assisted by Brendan Connolly and Blair Riley before Darcy Murphy grabbed his second of the period at 18:15, assisted by Jeff Mason and Brendan Connolly, to give the away side a commanding 4-0 lead after 20 minutes of action.

Colin Shields helped the visitors to further extend their lead at 21:38, assisted by Spiro Goulakos and Sebastien Sylvestre.

Charlie Mosey got the Flyers on the scoreboard at 25:00, assisted by Carlo Finucci and Shayne Stockton, before Dan Correale, assisted by Jim Jorgensen and Liam Heelis, made it 2-5 at 26:24.

Colin Shields doubled his tally on the night with a powerplay strike at 28:42, assisted by Steve Saviano and Sebastien Sylvestre.

Spiro Goulakos made it 7-2 at 35:57, assisted by Blair Riley and Darcy Murphy with Peter LeBlanc rounding off the middle period scoring at 39:48, assisted by Liam Heelis and James Isaacs.

Colin Shields completed his hat-trick at 49:44, assisted by Brendan Connolly and Sebastien Sylvestre before Danick Gauthier, assisted by Liam Heelis, scored the final goal of the game at 57:28.